At only 19 years old, Teija Edwards is already making a name for herself in the local creative industry as a second-place soca monarch and a vibrant young artist who knows no limits as it relates to her interests and dreams. From singing, playing musical instruments and painting, she is truly the definition of a multifaceted young woman who basks in her own world of creativity and hobbies.
In an interview with The Guyana Standard, Edwards reflected on her journey as a young creative hoping to become a mogul. She described competing in her first-ever Soca Monarch competition as a thrilling experience that placed her out of her comfort zone and sparked even more creativity within. However, if it were not for a boost in confidence, she may not have been able to accomplish such a feat.
While she was always in love with singing and over the years developed an undying love for soca music, confidence was not always something she possessed. It wasn’t until she saw some of her peers taking the leap to pursue their individual passions that she found the confidence to do the same. She highlighted her participation in this year’s Junior Soca Monarch competition as one of the most memorable moments as a creative and it has inspired her to touch greater heights.
With already a few songs produced, Edwards noted that she is the mastermind behind the concepts of her songs and often draws inspiration from other prominent Soca artistes while adding her own unique twist. Edwards’ two biggest musical influences are Kes and Rihanna. Kes, in particular, is one of her all-time favourite artists, and his song “Fallin” is her favourite of all time. It’s the song that made her fall in love with soca in the first place, and she hopes that one day someone will be able to say the same about one of her songs.
She described her latest songs, “Lucky” and “Tabanca,” as both carnival-themed pieces that depict the energy of the carnival season and what was missing during the pandemic. “Lucky is a carnival love song that celebrates being happy and feeling lucky to have someone to enjoy the carnival season and life with. Tabanca is about missing the carnival season and its thrills,” she said.
She stated that Guyana can look out for many more musical projects from her, as she continues to embrace and perfect her craft.
As it relates to musical instruments, she said, “I initially got into music with piano but stopped after a year cause it didn’t seem like the right fit. But I always loved steel pan but still wasn’t sure how to get myself into since the school I went to didn’t have a band. One day I came across Duvone Stewarts’ arrangement for the BP renegades for Voice’s song Year for Love and from there watching and listening to that, I said I want to be to able play like that and I want to one day be able to express myself like that.” This led to her learning to play the steelpan at the National School of Music and eventually playing with the National School of Music Steel Orchestra.
When it comes to her art, Edwards’ creations are all about expressing the emotions and thoughts that she is feeling at that moment. She shared that her style has become more refined over the years, and she often recreates pieces she did in high school just to see how far she has come as an artist. While she has not yet established an official business, she shared that she does sell her art. She said that her main focus is her music, however, she still wants to be able to express herself on a canvas and sell her work to those who are interested.
Edwards posing with her second-place and Best Newcomer trophies
Edwards noted that her biggest challenge has been her self-doubt and insecurities. She sometimes gets in her head and convinces herself that she’s not good enough or that she’s forcing something that doesn’t work for her. But she quickly snaps back to reality, either with the help of her friends or by looking at her work and accomplishments.
She was keen to note that her family has always been supportive of her dreams, even when they didn’t quite understand them. They allowed her to make her own choices and didn’t try to sway her decisions, knowing that eventually, she would find her way to the arts. This, she said, often helped in overcoming her doubts.
Currently, she is a Fine Arts student at the University of Guyana. Before studying at the University of Guyana. She hopes to one day study at the Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts in Jamaica or Howard University. Edwards believes that the creative industry has serious growth potential that she can contribute to and wants to become a national and international ambassador for Guyanese and Caribbean culture and the arts. She said that after studying abroad she would love to come back home and develop to arts in Guyana to make it a profitable industry.
She encourages others to take the leap of faith and “put themselves out there”, even when it’s hard and the results aren’t immediate. With her talent and determination, this publication believes that there’s no doubt that Teija Edwards is a rising star to look out for.
